We have reached the final week of the regular season for Georgia High School Football. Some of the dust still needs to settle with regards to region champions and playoff seedings. That will all be decided on Friday night. Part II of our Georgia High School Football Previews includes matchups that will determine the region champion. Games include Cedar Grove-Carver Atlanta, Dublin-Swainsboro, Morgan County-Harlem and Lambert and Milton
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
The Skinny
The Cedar Grove Saints are one win away from earning their 6th region title in eight years. The Saints only two losses this season came at the hands of Class 7A teams. Sophomore quarterback E.J. Colson has thrown for 1,837 yards and 20-TDs. Barry Jackson has caught 34 passes for 661 yards and 5-TDs while Ricky Lee has caught 24 passes for 436 yards and 5-TDs. The Saints are averaging 238.3 yards per game through the air and 133.5 yards per game on the ground. Offensively, they are averaging 34.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 22.2.
The Carver-Atlanta Panthers are looking to force a three way tie for the region title. The Panthers are averaging 160.1 yards per game through the air and 134.6 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Bryce Bowens leads the Panthers attack with 1,441 yards and 11-TDs. Bowens has not thrown an interception all season. The Panthers have rushed for 1,211 yards as a team. Shoun Bilal leads the team in rushing with 423 yards and 4-TDs. Carver has recorded an astounding 35 sacks on the season. Sack leaders for Carver include Aquantis Clemmons (12), Jamontez Hines (11) and Akiliss Smith (11).
Carver and Cedar Grove met twice last season, once in the regular season as region foes and once in the state title game. The Panthers defense might be the best 3A defense that Cedar Grove has faced to date. We like Carver, but think the Cedar Grove’s defense is just as good. We like the Saints this week by 12.
The Skinny
We certainly deserve to eat some crow this week as early in the preseason we thought this might by the year Dublin would fall to East Laurens. The Fighting Irish responded with a 71 point victory over their rival last week. The Fighting Irish are winners of their last four games. The defense has recorded back to back shutouts. On the season, Dublin is averaging 32 points per game while the defense is allowing 9.1. The Fighting Irish will do most of their damage on the ground on offense as they are led by running backs JaQuarius Evans, DeMari Foster and Martavius O’Neal.
The Swainsboro Tigers will be looking to earn their second consecutive region title with a win this week. We mentioned this last week, but the Tigers defense has been extremely impressive this season. The 21 points they allowed last week was the most in a game this season and more then they’ve allowed all season combined. Jonorian Foots leads the defense with 66 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss. Offensively, Swainsboro has rushed for 2,417 yards on the season.
Both of these teams will lean heavily on the ground attack this week. And while both of these teams have found a way to put up big numbers. We believe this game will end up being a defensive slugfest. We like the homesteading Fighting Irish in the Shamrock bowl this week. Dublin by 3.
The Skinny
The Morgan County Bulldogs are on the cusp of winning their first region tittle since 2017. Morgan County has won their last four games. The Bulldogs are averaging 39.4 points per game while the defense is allowing 19.1. In their last four games, they have outscored their opponents 164 to 53. Morgan County is averaging 149.9 yards per game through the air and 243.9 yards per game on the ground. As a team, the Bulldogs have rushed for 2,195 yards this season. They are led by Jacere Cooper who’s rushed for 1,299 yards and 15-TDs. Jaydon Dorsey has chipped in 634 yards and 10-TDs. T.J. Thompson leads the team win receiving with 31 receptions for 705 yards and 12-TDs.
The Harlem Bulldogs have won eight games for the first time since 1981 and have an opportunity to win their first region title since 1974. Harlem has won their last six games. They are averaging 129.2 yards per game through the air along with 166.4 yards per game on the ground. Running back Jason Williams leads the team with 1,017 yards and 17-TDs. Jon Jon Howard leads the team in receiving (29 catches, 588 yards, 7-TDs). Howard has also intercepted four passes and leads the team in that category as well.
Expect for both teams to attempt to establish the ground game. Morgan County’s offense has been a little more prolific this season. We believe playing at home will give Morgan a little bit more of an advantage this week We like Morgan County by 5.
The Skinny
The Lambert Longhorns are 9-0 for the first time in school history. They’ve also topped the school record for wins in a season. The Longhorns are averaging 35.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 15.3 points per game. Through the first eight games, quarterback James Tyre has thrown for 1,336 yards and 14-TDs. Brandon Jones is the top receiver for the Longhorns with 30 receptions for 712 yards and 8-TDs through 8 games. Lambert has a balanced attack, averaging 155.3 yards per game through the air and 140.8 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, linebacker Branson Brooks leads the team with 9 sacks. As a team, Lambert has sacked opposing quarterbacks 24 times.
The Milton Eagles are winners of their last five games. Overall, Milton is averaging 22.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 17.3. However, in region play, the Eagles are averaging 28.7 points per game while the defense is only allowing 12.2. Quarterback Luke Nickel has thrown for 1,685 yards and 14-TDs. His top receivers have been juniors Debron Gattling (49 receptions, 5-TDs) and Marc Essley II (42 receptions, 4-TDs). Milton’s offense has really been reliant on the pass this season, as they area averring 192 yards per game through the air against just 83.1 yards per game on the ground. Milton’s defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 times and have intercepted 10 passes this season.
A win by Lambert would earn them only their second region title in school history. We believe Lambert’s offense is explosive enough to play with Milton. Our big questions is can Lambert’s defense contain the Milton air attack. We believe they can. Lambert by 4.